By Lade Jean Kabagani/ Philippine News Agency
More than 40 million Filipinos have completed the Step 2 registration process for acquiring the Philippine Identification (PhilID) or the national ID under the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) project amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement Wednesday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said a total of 40,264,550 individuals have done their biometric capture as of October 31, following the Step 1 PhilSys process involving the collection of demographic information via https://register.philsys.gov.ph.
Step 2 process also involves the validation of supporting documents and will be followed by the delivery of PhilSys Number (PSN) and PhilID card to the owner’s home address in Step 3.
The PSA reminded the public that both PhilID and PSN, issued to every PhilSys registrant, are non-transferrable.
More than three million physical PhilID cards have been sent door-to-door by the Philippine Post Corporation, the official courier partner of the PSA, for free as of October 31.
Meanwhile, PSA Undersecretary Dennis Mapa assured that the PhilSys lead implementing agency would continue to sustain its gains in the promotion of financial inclusivity.
“The PSA salutes all those who contributed to this milestone for the PhilSys Step 2 Registration. As we are nearing the conclusion of another year, we look forward to attaining our goals in registering the general population to PhilSys,” said Mapa, who is also the National Statistician and Civil Registrar General.
Citing the benefits of the PhilSys project, Mapa urged more Filipinos to avail themselves of the national ID for free.
“Rest assured that the PSA, together with its field offices and partner agencies, are working diligently and in unison despite the pandemic to ensure that more Filipinos can use their PhiIIDs to access various services,” Mapa added.
Mapa earlier assured that all PSA field offices and its PhilSys Registry Offices are working hard in promoting PhilSys registration while maintaining strict adherence to health and safety protocols amid the health crisis.
Unbanked PhilSys registrants may also avail of the free opening of a bank account with the Land Bank of the Philippines in its 493 co-located PhilSys registration centers within 446 cities and municipalities nationwide.
Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens.
The national ID is a valid proof of identity that should be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts.
It will also boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present the PhilID during transactions. (PNA) -rir
